You were my first love and goddamn I don’t regret a second of it. You taught me so much about myself, and for that I am so grateful. When we were in high school, it felt like we would be there forever, it felt like we would be forever. The only thing we could make sense of was ourselves. Naive teenagers? Maybe. Hopeless romantics? Obviously. Best friends? For every second. You showed me what it was to be just that. You taught me it is okay to be naive sometimes, ignorance is bliss. You taught me to be a hopeless romantic, because what did we have to lose? You taught me to always value friendship and all the opportunities it can give you, so thank you. You deserve every ounce of happiness this world has to offer you and I hope college gives you just that. When you meet that special someone, make sure they spoil you. Yes I got the teenager, but they get the grown-up you and make sure they know they are blessed. You have such an amazing heart, regardless of the walls you keep it behind. Let somebody else knock down those walls. Don’t be afraid of what college has to offer you, embrace it. Find who you are and know that you have no obligation to stick to any stereotypes. The real you is beautiful, and wonderful, and kind. The real you will always be one of my favorite people and when I look back on my younger years I hope to remember you and that spark you lit in me. I want you to know I would be a different person without you, and not one that I would like as much.

If you are reading this, you know who you are, here is my list of "thank you"s

Thank you for your patience while we were both trying to figure everything out.

Thank you for accepting me and all of my flaws: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Thank you for helping me pass pre-calc, anatomy, and trig.

Thank you for teaching me what it is like to love and be loved unconditionally.

Thank you for learning everything about me and showing me you were listening.

Thank you for being my best friend.

Thank you for only laughing, never scolding, when I made silly mistakes.

Thank you for letting me be little spoon when I needed it.

Thank you for being selfless and allowing us to grow as one.

Thank you for the sleepovers where we could just cuddle until 3 a.m. talking.

Thank you for letting our love cross borders. (and helping me maneuver through airport security)

Thank you for never getting mad when I fell asleep and forgot to answer.

Thank you for challenging me, making me think, and making me grow.

Thank you for the endless adventures and trips.

Thank you for keeping me in check and not letting me make dumb decisions.

Thank you for the times that you made the dumb decisions with me.

Thank you for reminding me how important the little things are.

Thank you for giving me a taste of how future someones should treat me.

Thank you for only taking me seriously when I needed you to.

Thank you for not letting our ending ruin all of what we had.

Thank you for still being my friend.

Thank you for allowing us to let go.

It wasn't always fine and dandy when we were together, but it was always exactly what we needed to grow. Thank you for all that we were and I wish you the best of luck with anything and everything to come.

xoxo and yours truly,

the girl who loved you first